Cops pursue work angle in police asset shooting

CEBU, Philippines - A police asset and businessman was shot dead inside his multicab by two unidentified men on board a motorcycle on Sabellano Street in Barangay Pardo, Cebu City yesterday morning.

Police identified the victim as 54-year-old Marcelino Escalante, who owns a motor rewinding or electric shop in the area. 

Escalante, a resident of the area, succumbed to a gunshot wound to his head.

Senior Police Officer 2 Rommel Bancog, homicide investigator of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), revealed that the killing was “work-related.”

“Naa’y naghatag og information namo nga gi-atngan na ni siya, gidiritso’g duol then tira dayon kausa,” he said.

Bancog said the victim was about to leave his residence on board his multicab going to his shop when the suspects, who wore full-faced helmets, arrived.

The back rider disembarked and went towards the victim and, without hesitation, shot the latter once.

The assailant and the motorcycle rider sped off on their motorbike heading south, said police.

Police recovered a slug of an unidentified firearm  from the crime area.

Volunteer

Escalante was a volunteer of the Crime Watch in Action, a group who helps authorities fight all forms of crime. He was also an environmentalist and an anti-mining crusader.

Councilor David Tumulak, deputy mayor for police matters and the chairman of the City Council committee on public order and safety, said Escalante is a valuable police asset and his death was a big loss to police intelligence.

“Kinsa nalang man ang makasumbong ug kinsa nalang man ang maisugo’ng nga tao nga motabang nato sa kapolisan og mao mahitabo ni nila,” he said.

Tumulak urged authorities to also protect the anti-crime volunteers.

Laborer

In a separate incident, a 39-year-old laborer was also shot dead by unidentified suspects while unloading mangoes from a truck outside Carbon Market Unit 3 on F. Gonzales Street in Barangay Ermita this city Monday evening.

Police identified the victims as Arthur Pardillo, a native of Barangay Duljo Fatima.

He suffered gunshot wounds to his chest, resulting to his instantaneous death.

Police found an empty shell of a .45 pistol at the crime scene.

Bancog said the victim was reportedly involved in petty crimes in the area. — Ermida Q. Moradas and Hannah T. Tesorio (FREEMAN)